In the audio performance of The Queen's Garden, I found it very easy to follow. At first, prior to listening to the audio, I was genuinely worried about whether or not I would be able to easily follow the performance considering it was being done by one woman. However, the performance delivered by Brenda Wong Aoki was spectacular. It was clear when different characters were talking. I was never once confused as to who was delivering dialogue due to Aoki's clear and exaggerated diction and pronunciation. The audio never once lost the audience. It was completely captivating from beginning to end. Between the music, Aoki's performance, and the various accents and dialects that Aoki performed, the audio did a great job of making sure that the audience did not lose interest halfway through the piece. The world of the West Side was painted beautifully through the music that was incorporated into one cohesive picture painted by Aoki for the listener. The emotion that was delivered by Aoki through every line was spot on. Between the anger and pain portrayed in one scene, to the joy and exuberance portrayed in another, Aoki's performance made it clear what sort of feelings the characters were experiencing and how it affected their overall moods and interactions with others. In addition, I, in all truth, have had a very hard time picturing this play being performed in a traditional stage setting. I imagine a solitary person on a stage telling this story like a narrator, very stripped and raw as far as for set, lighting, emotional performance, and costuming. However, this audio did a fantastic job of bringing to life the story of The Queen's Gaeden, a task, prior to listening to this audio, would have easily believed to be impossible.
In the audio performance of The Queen's Garden, I found it very easy to follow. At first, prior to listening to the audio, I was genuinely worried about whether or not I would be able to easily follow the performance considering it was being done by one woman. However, the performance delivered by Brenda Wong Aoki was spectacular. It was clear when different characters were talking. I was never once confused as to who was delivering dialogue due to Aoki's clear and exaggerated diction and pronunciation. The audio never once lost the audience. It was completely captivating from beginning to end. Between the music, Aoki's performance, and the various accents and dialects that Aoki performed, the audio did a great job of making sure that the audience did not lose interest halfway through the piece. The world of the West Side was painted beautifully through the music that was incorporated into one cohesive picture painted by Aoki for the listener. The emotion that was delivered by Aoki through every line was spot on. Between the anger and pain portrayed in one scene, to the joy and exuberance portrayed in another, Aoki's performance made it clear what sort of feelings the characters were experiencing and how it affected their overall moods and interactions with others. In addition, I, in all truth, have had a very hard time picturing this play being performed in a traditional stage setting. I imagine a solitary person on a stage telling this story like a narrator, very stripped and raw as far as for set, lighting, emotional performance, and costuming. However, this audio did a fantastic job of bringing to life the story of The Queen's Gaeden, a task, prior to listening to this audio, would have easily believed to be impossible.